Monday, July 9, 2007

Accuracy of the news

First, before I criticize the news, I want to thank the Fire Department from Hubbard (all volunteer) and from Woodburn and Aurora. They tried very hard to contain the fire and put it out.

Every time I have been up close and personal on an event that makes news coverage I notice just how mistaken they are about details, small facts and large facts that they simply state or imply. Do you have any stories about bad reporting? Lets hear them. I am not saying they do it on purpose, they just don't get all the information. It's more like they are lazy. They talk to someone that has no clue about what went on and then head back to the news office. Take for instance this fire yesterday. The TV news people decided to interview the guy that had his camera watching the fire burn, from a long way away, rather than any of the various people that were actually there fighting the fire or had their house burn.

http://www.katu.com/news/8389532.html

Second, if the news doesn't care about accuracy then what do they care about? Probably just the sensationalism aspect of it. All they like to talk about is the explosion, which had nothing to do with the original fire - as far as I could tell from 25 feet away as I was helping the owner try to put the fire out 5+ minutes before the propane tank blew up. Furthermore, nobody was barbequeing and the reported knew that, or should have known that because we all did by then. ( because one house's BBQ's was on the other sides of the house and not burnt, and the other owner wasn't even home). It's sad that all they do is interview one guy - (who instead of helping, just video taped it from about 6 houses away. Thanks for helping buddy), and interview another guy that wasn't even home during the fire and got home from work approximately an hour after the fire. (great investigative reporting). Anyway, in case you can't see the clips, everyone is ok. Other than the terrible tragedy of losing their houses, the owners are safe. It just makes me wonder if this is the type of effort the news puts into every story they do. Makes we wonder about every story I see. Hubbard is a great place to live though, many of my fellow neighbors were right there helping me try to put it out, or helping in other wayss and the support from so many neighbors and friends makes you feel happy to live in a good neighborhood.

http://www.kptv.com/video/index.html

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I filmed that video that day, and there was nothing anyone could do to help put out that fire until help arrived. Because of the explosions I did stand 6 houses away like everyone else should have now that we knew everyone was out. Steve